[Dawkus]

All right you dubs,lets get the ball rolling.We all have a favorite turntable if you are of a certain age.My favorites that were affordable were Technics SL-20,belt driven and solid controls,the SL-23 even better for automatic return.The SL-20 sold for 99 dollars in 1975,could it compete with the Rega 1?.I love the original AR turntable,the Pioneer 12,the Sansui 212,and many others...whats your favorite for budget belt drive turntables..........Dawkus(mark.korda@myfairpoint.net)

[jakelieb]

AR Turntable with Merrill Mods.  My table bought in 1988-89 was upgraded by George Merrill himself:

http://www.vinylnirvana.com/ar_merrill_mods.shtml

Thanks to David Archambault for featuring it on his site.

Jake

[Dawkus]

Hi Jake,that was a great site with great pictures.I remember the Merrill mods from ads in the old AudioMart,but with no internet yet,I never saw the pictures.What craftsmanship displayed.....thanks Mark(Dawkus)

[orthobiz]

I still use my Linn Sondek from 1979. It's a used 1977 model purchased from the original owner. I got it with a Grace 707 (now gone) with a Fidelity Research MC cartridge (also gone) and a Dayton Wright phono MC preamp (also also gone) for 600 bucks.

Nothing budget about mine: the only thing left are the wooden base, metal plinth and the platter. Everything else has been changed: the motor and pulley, belt, dustcover, undercarriage suspension, bottom cover, tonearm (Rega RB600), cartridge (Linn Adikt) and I added a voltage/frequency controller (Lingo 2).

I will probably always have it.

Paul

[sts9fan]

I just got a Philips GA212 off eBay for $40.  It's a pretty nice table and I got a $40 referb kit that has a new belt, bulbs and power switch.  I then put on a new three prong power cord and shielded ICs.  I put a Denon DL110 on it and it is pretty great sounding.  I did have to put a thick mat on it as the platter is steel and the big magnent in the Denon was attracting to it.

[Dawkus]

sts9fan, As a freshman at URI I saw the Philips 212 table in 1976.What was cool to me were the heat sensitive control buttons much like those used in modern elevators.Dawkus.

[sts9fan]

Yeah those are the bulbs that go and are tough to find replacments for.  I met this guy in RI who sells them.  He loves the tables.  The steel platter is an issue though.  I may look for a replacement.  The buttons are super cool though.

[orthobiz]

sts9fan, As a freshman at URI I saw the Philips 212 table in 1976.What was cool to me were the heat sensitive control buttons much like those used in modern elevators.Dawkus.

My buddy had one in college. We used to blow on the buttons to activate them. A bit awkward and dorky but loads of fun if you're in the right frame of mind...

Paul

[ohenry]

Lenco L78 for me.  Also, AR-XB.  The AR was quieter, but the Lenco seemed to provide more dynamic bass... and while in college it was extremely important to make Mother's Finest sound larger than life.  The louder and heavier the sound, the more the girls shook.   aa

[doug s.]

any empire.  w/upgraded arm, these will still go toe-to-toe w/much costlier units, imo.  i have heard the same of the heavy-platter lenco's, if modded, but i have no 1st-hand experience.

doug s.

[Listens2tubes]

My Systemdek IIX, purchased in 1985. It always gave a run to friend's Thorens, Technics and such. It has most of the tweaks that can be found online. I'd put it up against anything you got -vintage that is. It's on my site.

[Marbles]

If you had a big budget    the big Micro Seiki's were hard to beat.

[doug s.]

My Systemdek IIX, purchased in 1985. It always gave a run to friend's Thorens, Technics and such. It has most of the tweaks that can be found online. I'd put it up against anything you got -vintage that is. It's on my site.

yes, a nice deck.  (even if i prefer the wintage empires, haha!)  i had one; i traded it for a rare wintage nos sansui fm-8/mp-1 tuner/mpx combo.  you can tweak the systemdek further w/an origin-live dc motor kit; i had excellent results w/this on my oracle delphi.

holly hippodaze,

doug s.

[WGH]

I'm still using the Harman Kardon T55C I bought in 1985 for $365. The Van Alstine power supply mod gave it new life so I don't think about upgrading very often. The table has an automatic arm lift and shut off at the end of a record which would be hard to live without.



Wayne

[doorman]

If you had a big budget    the big Micro Seiki's were hard to beat.

Big budget not always req'd!
Every time I think I've seen ALL the Micro's, another one pops-up!!
Best, Don